On Monday, September 25, 2023, MSD Meraviglia arrived in Newport, Rhode Island for the first time. The 171,598 gross ton Meraviglia-class cruise ship carries up to 5,700 passengers and is the largest ship to visit Newport this year. The call is part of MSC Meraviglia’s inaugural Canada and New England itinerary out of New York City.
Evan Smith, CEO and president of Discover Newport stated, “This is not only the largest cruise ship to make a port call in Newport this season, but also the most guests arriving on one vessel to this city.”
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase our coastal destination, Newport, Rhode Island to the MSC Meraviglia guests and to be part of this memorable coastal Canada and New England itinerary. For our hospitality partners; retail shops, restaurants and attractions, the economic impact from this one-day visit will be significant, and a welcome boost going into the fall months.”
Data gathered from Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), MSC Meraviglia is expected to significantly impact the region’s economy bringing in approximately $2 million in local revenue.
President of MSC Cruises, Rubén A. Rodríguez said, “MSC Meraviglia’s inaugural visit to Newport is a great milestone for MSC Cruises as we continue expanding our presence in the North American market.”
“When we launched year-round cruises from New York City, one of our goals was to allow guests to visit a wider variety of destinations, and Newport is a perfect example. The response to these itineraries has been strong, which means we’ll bring thousands of visitors to Newport this season. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders here to provide our guests with a distinctive and immersive cruising experience.”
The itineraries to Canada and New England out of New York City are part of MSC Cruises’ expanding presence in the United States. Besides New York City, MSC Cruises also sails from Port Canaveral and PortMiami.